“What we need is political leaders, including Mr Rudd and Mr Turnbull on this hill, who have got the gumption to reflect that Australian call to the Chinese dictators to give Tibet back its freedom, its peace and its rights.”

Tibetan independence was a priority for the Greens political community around the world, Senator Brown said, adding he would be raising the issue again at an upcoming party conference in Europe.

A spokesman for Australia’s Tibetan community, Tsewang Thupten, told the rally that the 50th anniversary of the failed uprising was a day to celebrate and commemorate Tibetans.

“Today is a day to celebrate the strength of the Tibetan people and their perseverance, and to commit ourselves to continuing the struggle,” Mr Thupten said.

“We are also commemorating the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Tibetans and the millions who are still under the Chinese occupation.”

The group, waving flags and placards, sang the national anthem of Tibet before marching on the Chinese embassy.